U.S. patent application number 12/451241 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-15 for electric power supply system and vehicle.
Invention is credited to Kazuyoshi Obayashi.
Application Number | 20100090524 12/451241 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40031668 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100090524 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Obayashi; Kazuyoshi |
April 15, 2010 |
ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND VEHICLE
Abstract
An electric automobile has a battery and also has a travel motor
and a vehicle interior load device which operate using electric
power from the battery. In response to a request for a start of
electric power supply to the vehicle interior load device with the
automobile being at a standstill, the electric automobile
determines, based on the charged state of the battery, whether
electric power from the battery can be supplied to the vehicle
interior load device. When determining that the electric power from
the battery cannot be supplied to the vehicle interior load device,
the electric automobile makes a request to an electric power supply
device to supply electric power to the vehicle interior load
device. In response to the request, the electric power supply
device electrically connects to the vehicle interior load device
and starts supply of electric power to the vehicle interior load
device.
Inventors: |
Obayashi; Kazuyoshi;
(Chita-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 320850
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320-4850
US
|
Family ID: |
40031668 |
Appl. No.: |
12/451241 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 18, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2008/058007 |
371 Date: |
November 2, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
307/9.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60L 53/35 20190201;
Y04S 10/126 20130101; B60L 53/126 20190201; Y02T 90/12 20130101;
B60L 55/00 20190201; B60L 2210/20 20130101; Y02E 60/00 20130101;
H02J 3/32 20130101; Y02T 90/14 20130101; Y02T 10/72 20130101; H01M
10/44 20130101; Y10S 903/903 20130101; H01M 10/425 20130101; B60L
53/31 20190201; Y10S 903/907 20130101; Y02T 10/7072 20130101; Y02E
60/10 20130101; B60L 53/14 20190201; Y02T 10/70 20130101; Y02T
90/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
307/9.1 |
International
Class: |
B60L 1/00 20060101
B60L001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 17, 2007 |
JP |
2007-131243 |
Claims
1. An electric power supply system comprising: a vehicle including
a vehicle interior load device which operates using electric power
from a battery; and an electric power supply device for charging
the battery using electric power from a commercial electric power
source system, wherein the vehicle includes: an electric power
supply requesting section which makes a request to the electric
power supply device to supply electric power to the vehicle
interior load device in accordance with a demand for supplying
electric power to the vehicle interior load device when the vehicle
is at a standstill; and an electric power reception section which
is connected to the vehicle interior load device, and receives
electric power supplied from the electric power supply device and
supplies the electric power to the vehicle interior load device in
accordance with the request, and the electric power supply device
includes: an electric power supply section which is connected to
the electric power reception section by means of an inductive
method or a conductive method and supplies electric power to the
electric power reception section, in accordance with the
request.
2. A vehicle including a vehicle interior load device which
operates using electric power from a battery, comprising: an
electric power requesting section which makes a request to an
electric power supply device for charging the battery using
electric power from a commercial electric power source system to
supply electric power to the vehicle interior load device, in
accordance with a demand for supplying electric power to the
vehicle interior load device when the vehicle is at a standstill;
and an electric power reception section which is connected to the
vehicle interior load device, and receives electric power supplied
from the electric power supply device and supplies the electric
power to the vehicle interior load device in accordance with the
request.
3. The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a control
section which controls charging and discharging of the battery,
wherein if the vehicle interior load device is a particular vehicle
interior load device, the electric power supply requesting section
requests the electric power supply device to supply electric power
to the vehicle interior load device, and if the vehicle interior
load device is not a particular vehicle interior load device, the
electric power supply requesting section requests the control
section to supply electric power from the battery to the vehicle
interior load device.
4. The vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising: a control
section which controls charging and discharging of the battery; and
a determination section which determines whether or not electric
power from the battery can be supplied to the vehicle interior load
device based on a state of charge of the battery, in response to a
demand for supplying electric power to the vehicle interior load
device, wherein if it is determined that the electric power from
the battery cannot be supplied to the vehicle interior load device,
the electric power supply requesting section requests the electric
power supply device to supply electric power to the vehicle
interior load device, and if it is determined that the electric
power from the battery can be supplied to the vehicle interior load
device, the electric power supply requesting section requests the
control section to supply the electric power from the battery to
the vehicle interior load device.
5. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein when a state of charge
of the battery becomes smaller than a predetermined threshold when
the vehicle is at a standstill, the electric power supply
requesting section requests the electric power supply device to
supply electric power to the battery.
6. An electric power supply system comprising: a vehicle including
an electric power generation device or a battery; and an electric
power supply device for supplying electric power generated by the
electric power generation device or electric power stored in the
battery to an electric load outside the vehicle, wherein the
electric power supply device includes: a requesting section which
makes a request to the vehicle to supply electric power to the
electric load in accordance with a demand for starting electric
power supply from the battery to the electric load; and an electric
power reception section which, upon receiving from the vehicle a
determination result that electric power can be supplied from the
battery in response to the request, connects to the vehicle by
means of an inductive method or a conductive method and supplies
the electric power from the battery to the electric load, and the
vehicle includes: a determination section which determines whether
or not the electric power from the battery can be supplied to the
electric load based on a state of charge of the battery, and
outputs the determination result to the electric power supply
device, in response to the request; and an electric power supply
section which connects to the electric power reception section of
the electric power supply device by means of an inductive method or
a conductive method, and supplies the electric power from the
battery to the electric power reception section.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electric power
supply section of the electric power supply device terminates
connection to the electric power reception section in accordance
with an instruction to stop supplying the electric power.
8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the electric power
reception section of the electric power supply device terminates
connection to the electric power supply section in accordance with
an instruction to stop supplying the electric power.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a system for controlling
electric power of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As electric vehicles such as electric automobiles use
electric motors as power sources for driving by receiving electric
power supplied from batteries, the batteries must be charged when
the charged amount is depleted.
[0003] Generally, a battery for an electric vehicle needs to be
charged after several tens of hours of traveling. Further, a
battery naturally discharges electricity even if it is not used. As
such, when an electric vehicle has not been used for a long time,
as the battery capacity is reduced although it was fully charged,
the battery may be required to be charged even if the vehicle has
not been traveling.
[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an art to calculate expected
electric power usage according to schedules such as a distance and
time to be used, and compare the expected electric power usage with
the residual of the current charged amount of the battery to
thereby determine whether or not charging is required.
[0005] Patent Document 2 discloses an art to automatically charge a
battery when the residual capacity of the battery is reduced after
an ignition switch was turned off.
[0006] Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose an art enabling
transmission of electric power between an electric automobile and a
home. More specifically, Patent Documents 3 and 4 disclose an art
to learn power consumption according to a traveling history,
calculate an amount of secured electric power which is required to
be secured for a battery, and supply electric power from the
battery to the home side while limiting to a range in which the
amount of secured electric power and the amount of electric power
for emergency use are subtracted from the residual amount of the
battery.
[0007] PATENT DOCUMENT 1: JP 2002-315193 A
[0008] PATENT DOCUMENT 2: JP 8-126120 A
[0009] PATENT DOCUMENT 3: JP 2001-8380 A
[0010] PATENT DOCUMENT 4: JP 2001-258177 A
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0011] A vehicle such as an automobile may activate an
air-conditioning device before the ignition switch is turned on
with use of electric power of a battery to thereby previously
control the heat environment inside the vehicle to be in a desired
state by the time that the vehicle is used. Further, until the
ignition switch is turned on, the battery of the electric
automobile may supply remaining electric power to a home side for
example, as disclosed in Patent Documents 3 and 4. When the
electric power of the battery is consumed by a load such as an
air-conditioning device before the vehicle is used, if the power
consumption of the load is large, the residual capacity of the
battery may not be sufficient for traveling of the vehicle when the
vehicle starts traveling, even though the power consumption has
been estimated and the electric power has been secured.
[0012] An object of the present invention is to prevent the
residual capacity of a battery provided to a vehicle from being
deficient in necessary capacity at least when the vehicle starts
operation.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0013] The present invention is an electric power supply system
including a vehicle having a vehicle interior load device which
operates by electric power from a battery, and an electric power
supply device for charging the battery with use of electric power
from a commercial electric power source system. The vehicle
includes an electric power supply requesting section which makes a
request to the electric power supply device to supply electric
power to the vehicle interior load device in accordance with a
demand for supplying electric power to the vehicle interior load
device when the vehicle is at a standstill, and an electric power
reception section which is connected to the vehicle interior load
device and receives electric power supplied from the electric power
supply device and supplies the electric power to the vehicle
interior load device in accordance with the request. The electric
power supply device includes an electric power supply section which
is connected to the electric power reception section by means of an
inductive method or a conductive method, and supplies electric
power to the electric power reception section, in accordance with
the request.
[0014] Further, the present invention is a vehicle including a
vehicle interior load device which operates by electric power from
a battery. The vehicle includes an electric power requesting
section which makes a request to an electric power supply device
for charging the battery using electric power from a commercial
electric power source system to supply electric power to the
vehicle interior load device in accordance with a demand for
supplying electric power to the vehicle interior load device when
the vehicle is at a standstill, and an electric power reception
section which is connected to the vehicle interior load device and
receives electric power supplied from the electric power supply
device and supplies the electric power to the vehicle interior load
device in accordance with the request.
[0015] Further, the present invention is an electric power supply
system including a vehicle having an electric power generation
device or a battery, and an electric power supply device which
supplies electric power generated by the electric power generation
device or electric power stored in the battery to an electric load
outside the vehicle. The electric power supply device includes a
requesting section which makes a request to the vehicle to supply
electric power to the electric load in accordance with a demand for
starting electric power supply from the battery to the electric
load, and an electric power reception section which, upon receiving
from the vehicle a determination result that electric power can be
supplied from the battery in response to the request, connects to
the vehicle by means of an inductive method or a conductive method
and supplies the electric power from the battery to the electric
load. The vehicle includes a determination section which determines
whether or not the electric power from the battery can be supplied
to the electric load based on a state of charge of the battery and
outputs a determination result to the electric power supply device
in response to the request, and an electric power supply section
which connects to the electric power reception section of the
electric power supply device by means of an inductive method or a
conductive method and supplies the electric power from the battery
to the electric power reception section.
ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to
prevent deficiency in the residual capacity of the battery provided
to the vehicle, at least when the vehicle starts operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing functional blocks of the entire
system of an embodiment and a variation thereof.
[0018] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary
connection when an electric power supply/reception section of a
vehicle side and an electric power supply/reception section of an
electric power supply device side are electrically connected by
means of an inductive method.
[0019] FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary
connection when an electric power supply/reception section of a
vehicle side and an electric power supply/reception section of an
electric power supply device side are electrically connected by
means of a conductive method.
[0020] FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing exemplary processing
procedures of an electric power supply/reception control section on
a vehicle side when an electric power supply request to a vehicle
interior load device is detected.
[0021] FIG. 3B is a flowchart showing exemplary processing
procedures of an electric power supply/reception control section on
a vehicle side when an electric power supply request to a vehicle
interior load device is detected.
[0022] FIG. 3C is a flowchart showing exemplary processing
procedures of an electric power supply/reception control section on
a vehicle side when an electric power supply request to a vehicle
interior load device is detected.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of an
electric power supply/reception control section on a home side when
an electric power supply request is received from an electric
automobile.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of an
electric power supply/reception control section on a home side when
a request for electric power is made to an electric automobile.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing procedures of an
electric power supply/reception control section on the vehicle side
when a request for electric power is made to an electric
automobile.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0026] 10 electric automobile [0027] 12 electric power
supply/reception control section [0028] 14 load control section
[0029] 16 wireless communication section [0030] 20 electric power
supply/reception section [0031] 22 second inverter [0032] 24 switch
[0033] 26 vehicle interior load device [0034] 30 battery [0035] 32
first inverter [0036] 34 motor [0037] 40 electric power
supply/reception section [0038] 42 converter [0039] 50 electric
power supply device [0040] 52 electric power supply/reception
control section [0041] 54 wireless communication section [0042] 60
commercial electric power source system [0043] 62 power
distribution panel [0044] 70 in-home load device
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0045] An embodiment specifically showing the best mode for
carrying out the present invention will be described below using
the drawings.
[0046] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the functional blocks of the
entire system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG.
1, the present system includes an electric automobile 10, an
electric power supply device 50 which is electrically connected to
a battery 30 provided to the electric automobile 10 and charges the
battery 30, a commercial electric power source system 60 for
supplying electric power from an electric power company to the
electric power supply device 50, and an in-home load device 70
which operates by receiving electric power from the commercial
electric power source system 60. It should be noted that although
description is given using the electric automobile 10 as an example
of a vehicle in the present embodiment, the present invention is
applicable to any other vehicles such as hybrid electric
automobiles and fuel cell automobiles if the vehicles have
batteries capable of being charged by outside power sources.
[0047] In the present embodiment, the electric automobile 10
operates a vehicle interior load device 26 by means of electric
power supplied from the electric power supply device 50 if
required, in a state where the electric automobile 10 cannot travel
such as a state where the ignition switch is off. In the present
embodiment, description is exemplary given for a case where the
electric automobile 10 is stopped at a predetermined position near
the electric power supply device 50, with the ignition switch being
off. However, if the electric automobile 10 is stopped while being
electrically connected to the electric power supply device 50, the
embodiment described below is applicable even if the ignition
switch is on.
[0048] In the present embodiment, the electric automobile 10 and
the electric power supply device 50 are electrically connected to
each other via the electric power supply/reception sections 20 and
40, and supply and receive electric power. The electrical
connection between the electric power supply/reception section 20
on the vehicle side and the electric power supply/reception section
40 on the electric power supply device side is realized by a
well-known method such as an inductive method or a conductive
method. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary
connection when the electric power supply/reception section 20 on
the vehicle side and the electric power supply/reception section 40
on the electric power supply device side are electrically connected
by means of an inductive method. As shown in FIG. 2A, in the case
of an inductive method, electric power is supplied and received in
a non-contact manner utilizing electromagnetic induction between a
coil L1 and a coil L2 provided in the electric power
supply/reception section 20 and the electric power supply/reception
section 40, respectively. The electric power supply/reception
section 40 on the electric power supply device side is movable
vertically in an up and down direction with respect to the ground D
for example, as shown in FIG. 2A. When electrically connected to
the electric power supply/reception section 20 on the vehicle side,
the electric power supply/reception section 40 is elevated up to a
position where the distance between the coil L1 and the coil L2
enables electromagnetic induction. Meanwhile, FIG. 2B is a
schematic diagram showing an exemplary connection when the electric
power supply/reception section 20 on the vehicle side and the
electric power supply/reception section 40 on the electric power
supply device side are electrically connected by means of a
conductive method. As shown in FIG. 2B, in the conductive method,
electric power is supplied and received by physically connecting a
coupler 40a provided in the electric power supply/reception section
40 on the electric power supply device side to a coupler 20a
provided in the electric power supply/reception section 20 on the
vehicle side. The electric power supply/reception section 40 on the
electric power supply device side includes, for example, an arm 40b
and a control section 40c which controls the arm, and the tip of
the arm 40b is provided with a position sensor (not shown) and the
coupler 40a. The control section 40c detects the position of the
coupler 20a on the vehicle side using the position sensor, and
moves the arm 40b in accordance with positional information from
the position sensor, to thereby connect the coupler 40a on the
electric power supply device side and the coupler 20a on the
vehicle side.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, the electric automobile 10 includes a
battery 30, and a motor 34 which receives electric power from the
battery 30 via a first inverter 32 and drives drive wheels. The
electric automobile 10 further includes vehicle interior load
devices 26 such as an air-conditioning device, a car navigation
system, and an auto leveler which automatically adjust the vehicle
height. The vehicle interior load devices 26 operate by receiving
electric power supplied from the battery 30 via the switch 24 under
the control of the load control section 14 even when the ignition
switch is off. The switch 24 is further connected to the electric
power supply/reception section 20 via a second inverter 22.
[0050] The electric power supply/reception control section 12 is
configured of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, which controls the
first inverter 32 and adjusts the amount of electric power output
from the battery 30. The electric power output from the first
inverter 32 is input to the motor 34, and the motor 34 is driven by
the electric power. Further, the electric power supply/reception
control section 12 controls the switch 24 to thereby input the
electric power from the battery 30 to the vehicle interior load
devices 26. Alternatively, the electric power supply/reception
control section 12 inputs the electric power output from the
electric power supply device 50 to the vehicle interior load
devices 26 via a second inverter 22. When the battery 30 is charged
with the electric power from the electric power supply device 50
side, the second inverter 22 converts the electric power from high
frequency AC to DC. Further, when the electric power from the
battery 30 is output to the electric power supply device 50, the
second inverter 22 converts the electric power from DC to high
frequency AC. It should be noted that the converter 42 is also
capable of performing DC/DC conversion, AC/AC conversion, and the
like in accordance with the input electric power and the output
electric power. The load control section 14 is composed of a CPU,
ROM, RAM, and the like, and operates the vehicle interior load
device 26 in response to an activation instruction output at a
predetermined time by user's operation or timer operation, and
performs predetermined control.
[0051] A wireless communication section 16 is wirelessly connected
to a wireless communication section 54 provided in the electric
power supply device 50, and transmits and receives information such
as control signals between the electric automobile 10 and the
electric power supply device 50.
[0052] The electric power supply device 50 is electrically
connected to the electric automobile 10 via the electric power
supply/reception section 40 and supplies and receives electric
power to/from the electric automobile 10, as described above. The
electric power supply device 50 is connected to a power
distribution panel 62, through which the electric power supply
device 50 receives electric power from the commercial electric
power source system 60. The electric power from the commercial
electric power source system 60 is input to the converter 42
through the power distribution panel 62. When charging the battery
30, the converter 42 converts the electric power from the
commercial electric power source system 60 from AC to DC, and then,
further converts the DC power to high-frequency AC power. Further,
when the converter 42 supplies the electric power from the electric
automobile 10 side to the in-home load devices 70 or to the
commercial electric power source system 60 through the power
distribution panel 62, the converter 42 converts the electric power
from the electric automobile 10 side from high-frequency AC to DC
power, and then further converts the DC power to AC power. It
should be noted that the converter 42 is capable of performing
DC/DC conversion, AC/AC conversion, and the like, corresponding to
the input electric power and the output electric power.
[0053] In the system configured as described above, the processing
procedures of the electric power supply/reception control section
12 on the vehicle side and the processing procedures of the
electric power supply/reception control section 52 on the home side
in the case of operating the vehicle interior load devices when the
ignition switch is off will be described below using the flowcharts
shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C and FIG. 4.
[0054] FIG. 3A is a flowchart showing exemplary processing
procedures of the electric power supply/reception control section
12 on the vehicle side when an electric power supply request made
to the vehicle interior load device 26 is detected.
[0055] In FIG. 3A, when the electric power supply/reception control
section 12 detects an electric power supply request made by the
load control section 14 to the vehicle interior load device 26
according to an instruction by a user or at a time based on a
predetermined schedule for example (S100), the electric power
supply/reception control section 12 first acquires a state of
charge (SOC) of the battery 30 (S102). According to the acquired
SOC, the electric power supply/reception control section 12
determines whether electric power can be supplied from the battery
30 to the vehicle interior load device 26 (S104).
[0056] As a result of the determination, if electric power can be
supplied (determination result at step S104 is positive, "Y"), the
electric power supply/reception control section 12 supplies the
electric power from the battery 30 to the vehicle interior load
device 26, and operates the vehicle interior load device 26
(S106).
[0057] In contrast, if the charged amount of the battery 30 is
insufficient so that electric power cannot be supplied from the
battery 30 to the vehicle interior load device 27 (determination
result at step S104 is negative, "N"), the electric power
supply/reception control section 12 requests the electric power
supply device 50 to supply electric power, via the wireless
communication section 16 (S108). Then, when the electric power
supply/reception section 12 is electrically connected to the
electric power supply device 50 via the electric power
supply/reception section 20 (determination result at step S110 is
positive, "Y"), the electric power supply/reception control section
12 controls the inverter 22, the switch SW and the like so as to
allow the electric power from the electric power supply device 50
to be supplied to the vehicle interior load device 26 (S112).
[0058] As described above, in the present embodiment, when the
vehicle interior load device 26 cannot be operated with use of
electric power from the battery 30 in a state where the ignition
switch is off, the electric automobile 10 operates the vehicle
interior load device 26 using electric power from the electric
power supply device 50 by electrically connecting to the electric
power supply device 50, if required.
[0059] In FIG. 3A, whether or not to supply electric power from the
battery 30 to the vehicle interior load device 26 is determined
based on the state of charge of the battery 30. However, it is also
acceptable to register a vehicle interior load device 26 having
large power consumption in a memory beforehand, and when electric
power is requested from the registered vehicle interior load device
26 (e.g., air conditioning device), to request electric power from
the electric power supply device 50.
[0060] FIG. 3B is a flowchart showing the processing procedures of
the electric power supply/reception control section 12 in the case
of changing a subject from which electric power supply is requested
according to the type of vehicle interior load device 26 requesting
electric power.
[0061] In FIG. 3B, when the electric power supply/reception control
section 12 detects an electric power supply request made from the
load control section 14 to the vehicle interior load device 26
according to an instruction by a user or at a time according to a
predetermined schedule for example (S100), the electric power
supply/reception control section 12 determines whether or not the
vehicle interior load device 26 for which electric power supply is
requested is a device having been registered in the memory (S101).
As a result of determination, if the vehicle interior load device
26 is not a device registered in the memory (determination result
at step S101 is negative, "N"), the electric power supply/reception
control section 12 determines that the power consumption thereof is
relatively small, and so the electric power supply/reception
control section 12 supplies electric power from the battery 30 to
the vehicle interior load device 26 to thereby operate the vehicle
interior load device 26 (S106).
[0062] On the other hand, as a result of determination, if the
vehicle interior load device 26 is a device registered in the
memory (determination result at step S101 is positive, "Y"), the
electric power supply/reception control section 12 determines that
the power consumption thereof is relatively large, so that the
electric power supply/reception control section 12 requests the
electric power supply device 50 to supply electric power, via the
wireless communication section 16 (S108). Thereafter, the electric
power supply/reception control section 12 performs the processes of
steps S110 to S112 in the same manner as the processes of FIG.
3A.
[0063] As described above, it is also acceptable that the electric
power supply/reception control section 12 registers the vehicle
interior load device 26 having large power consumption in the
memory beforehand, and when electric power is requested by the
registered vehicle interior load device 26, the electric power
supply/reception control section 12 requests electric power from
the electric power supply device 50.
[0064] It should be noted that even in the case of an electric
power request from the registered vehicle interior load device 26,
the electric power supply/reception control section 12 may
determine whether or not electric power can be supplied from the
battery 30 before requesting the electric power supply device 50 to
supply electric power, as shown in steps S102 to S104 of FIG.
3C.
[0065] Further, when the electric power supply/reception control
section 12 acquires the SOC of the battery 30 at step S102, the
electric power supply/reception control section 12 may determine
whether or not the SOC of the battery is smaller than a
predetermined threshold at which the battery 30 needs to be
charged. As a result of determination, if the SOC of the battery 30
is smaller than the predetermined threshold, the electric power
supply/reception control section 12 may request the electric power
supply device 50 to supply electric power, and when connection to
the electric power supply device 50 has been completed, charge the
battery 30 with the electric power from the electric power supply
device 50. Further, the electric power supply/reception control
section 12 may also charge the battery 30 in parallel with
supplying electric power to the vehicle interior load device 26
using electric power from the electric power supply device 50.
[0066] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing procedures of
the electric power supply/reception control section 52 on the home
side when an electric power supply request is made by the electric
automobile 10.
[0067] In FIG. 4, when the electric power supply/reception control
section 52 detects an electric power supply request from the
electric automobile 10 via the wireless communication section 54
(S200), if the electric power supply/reception control section 52
is not connected to the electric automobile 10 (determination
result at step S202 is negative, "N"), the electric power
supply/reception control section 52 connects to the electric
automobile 10 (S204). That is, the electric power supply/reception
control section 52 electrically connects to the electric automobile
10 via the electric power supply/reception section 40. Then, the
electric power supply/reception control section 52 supplies
electric power received from the commercial electric power source
system 60 to the vehicle interior load device 26 via the electric
power supply/reception section 40 (S206). It should be noted that
if the request from the electric automobile 10 is to charge the
battery 30, the electric power supply/reception control section 52
supplies electric power received from the commercial electric power
source system 60 to the battery 30 via the electric power
supply/reception section 40. Then, when the electric power
supply/reception control section 52 receives an instruction to stop
supplying electric power from the electric automobile 10
(determination result at step S208 is positive, "Y"), the electric
power supply/reception control section 52 terminates the connection
to the electric automobile 10 (S210).
[0068] Next, a modification of the present embodiment will be
described using the drawings.
[0069] In the present modification, electric power from the battery
30 provided to the electric automobile 10 is supplied to the
in-home load device 70 upon request from the electric power supply
device 50.
[0070] Hereinafter, the processing procedures of the electric power
supply/reception control section 52 on the home side and the
processing procedures of the electric power supply/reception
control section 12 on the vehicle side will be described using the
flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0071] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the processing procedures of
the electric power supply/reception control section 52 on the home
side in the case of requesting electric power from the electric
automobile 10.
[0072] In FIG. 5, when the electric power supply/reception control
section 52 supplies electric power received from the electric
automobile 10 to the in-home load device 70 according to a user's
instruction or the like, the electric power supply/reception
control section 52 outputs an electric power supply request
indicating the amount of electric power requested to the electric
automobile 10 for example, via the wireless communication section
54 (S300). In response to the electric power supply request, the
electric power supply/reception control section 52 acquires
information, from the electric automobile 10, indicating whether or
not electric power can be supplied from the battery 30 as described
below. The electric power supply/reception control section 52
refers to the information, and if electric power cannot be supplied
from the battery 30 (determination result at step S302 is negative,
"N"), notifies the user of an error (S304).
[0073] In contrast, if electric power can be supplied from the
battery 30 (determination result at step S302 is positive, "Y"),
the electric power supply/reception control section 52 determines
whether it is electrically connected to the electric automobile
(S306), and if it is not connected, the electric power
supply/reception control section 52 connects to the electric
automobile 10 (S308). That is, the electric power supply/reception
control section 52 connects to the electric automobile 10 via the
electric power supply/reception section 40. Then, the electric
power supply/reception control section 52 supplies electric power
from the battery 30 to the in-home load device 70 through the
electric power supply/reception section 40 and the converter 42
(S310). Further, when the electric power supply/reception control
section 52 receives an instruction to stop supplying electric power
to the in-home load device 70 by means of a user's instruction or
the like (determination result at step S312 is positive, "Y"), the
electric power supply/reception control section 52 terminates the
connection to the electric automobile 10 (S314).
[0074] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedures of
the electric power supply/reception control section 12 on the
vehicle side when making a request to the electric automobile 10
for electric power.
[0075] In FIG. 6, when the electric power supply/reception control
section 12 detects an electric power supply request from the
electric power supply device 50 via the wireless communication
section 16 (S400), the electric power supply/reception control
section 12 determines whether or not electric power can be supplied
from the battery 30 to the in-home load device 70, according to the
SOC of the battery 30 and the amount of electric power requested by
the electric power supply device 50 (S402). As a result of
determination, if electric power cannot be supplied (determination
result at step S402 is negative, "N"), the electric power
supply/reception control section 12 notifies the electric power
supply device 50 of an error (S404).
[0076] In contrast, if electric power can be supplied
(determination result at step S402 is positive, "Y"), the electric
power supply/reception control section 12 outputs a permission
notification indicating that electric power can be supplied to the
electric power supply device 50, via the wireless communication
section 16 (S406). Then, when electric connection to the electric
power supply device 50 is completed (determination result at step
S408 is positive, "Y"), the electric power supply/reception control
section 12 outputs electric power from the battery 30 to the
electric power supply device 50 via the inverter 22 and the
electric power supply/reception section 20, and supplies the
electric power from the battery 30 to the in-home load device 70
(S410).
[0077] As described above, according to the present modification,
when the electric power supply/reception control section 52
receives a request for supplying electric power from the electric
automobile 10 to the in-home load device 70, and if electric power
can be supplied from the battery 30, the electric power
supply/reception control section 52 electrically connects to the
electric automobile 10 and receives electric power from the battery
30.
[0078] In the above modification, although an example of supplying
electric power from the battery 30 provided to the electric
automobile 10 to the in-home load device 70 has been described,
electric power from the battery 30 may be supplied to electrical
apparatuses other than the in-home load device 70, such as those
used outside (e.g., campsite). Further, electric power from the
battery 30 may also be supplied to the commercial electric power
source system 60. In other words, electric power from the battery
30 may be caused to flow in reverse to the commercial electric
power source system 60 according to a request from the electric
power supply device 50.
[0079] In the case where electric power from the battery 30 is
supplied to electric apparatuses provided outside or is made to
flow in reverse to the commercial electric power source system 60,
the processing procedures of the electric power supply/reception
control section 52 on the home side and the electric power
supply/reception control section 12 on the vehicle side can be
understood by referring to the flowcharts of FIGS. 5 and 6 while
replacing the "in-home load device" with an "outside electric
apparatus" or a "commercial electric power source system".
[0080] Further, as a trigger for terminating electrical connection
between the electric automobile 10 and the electric power supply
device 50, description has been given for the case where electric
power supply to the load device is terminated according to an
instruction from the user or the like, as shown in step S208 in
FIG. 4 and step S312 in FIG. 5. However, there is a case where
electric power cannot be supplied to the vehicle interior load
device or the in-home load device due to an error in a state where
the electric automobile 10 and the electric power supply device 50
are electrically connected. In that case, the electric power
supply/reception control section 52 on the home side may terminate
the electrical connection between the electric automobile 10 and
the electric power supply device 50 upon receiving an error
notification from the vehicle interior load device or the in-home
load device.
* * * * *